Monday, May 18, 2009

Daily Encouragement (05/18/09) "Continue To Compel"

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Transport for Christ mobile chapel
Transport For Christ Mobile Chapel

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"Continue to Compel"

"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled"   (Luke 14:23).

Transport for Christ mobile chapelYesterday we had an interesting missions presentation at our church.  "Transport for Christ" is a ministry where volunteers recondition truck trailers and then reassemble them as mobile chapels. They are then placed at various truck stops along with chaplains around the country and in several other countries. 

Our speaker was Chaplain Bunny (Dennis) O'Hare, who shared his testimony and told about his involvement with TFC ministry. He inspired the congregation with stories of truckers coming into the chapel to receive spiritual help and told of those whose marriages were restored.  A former trucker himself, now called to ministry, he fits right in and is known by many of the drivers.  I recall him sharing once of how the driver's lounges at the truck stops are his "fishing holes", recalling the words of Jesus to the disciples, "I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).

I drove a truck for a short time while in college and Brooklyn Sherrell, Brooksyne's dad, was a truck driver so we easily identify with the truck drivers way of life, though admittedly I never was an over the road driver.  Ministry for Christ takes place in so many different ways.  All over the world today people who follow Jesus are compelling others to also follow Him.  Some, like Chaplain O'Hare, are right out there in the highways.  He, like all of us, finds that many are uninterested or reject his offer to help but he's still out there faithfully plugging away.  And it's the same for us isn't it?

DL MoodyWe once visited the beautiful village of Northfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace and burial grounds for D.L. Moody, who served as an evangelist for Christ during the 1800's.  The last sermon D.L. Moody ever preached was on November 23, 1899 in Kansas City, Missouri.  His message was based on the daily text. 

Though he was so physically weak he could scarcely get up to the pulpit, he nevertheless passionately preached from his heart and some 50 souls turned to the Lord.  He went home to be with Jesus the very next month.  At his gravestone Brooksyne and I with Ester alongside us rededicated our lives to God and now over 100 years after his death we join those like him, who are obeying the call of the Master.

What a call to obey!  The "highways and hedges" represent the uttermost call of the Gospel, elsewhere worded by Christ as "the least of these."  We all have "highways and hedges" around us; people who need the invitation to God's house.  We are to compel them to come in.  This speaks of the seriousness and persuasiveness we must have as we present the claims of our Lord. It also speaks of the life we are to live that others may be drawn to the Spirit's power as He is evidenced in our lives.  It was the driving force behind D.L. Moody's fervent evangelism and so many others. 

Why?  "That My house may be filled."  This phrase powerfully speaks of the Father heart of God.  He wants His house full. Are we doing our part today?  May Christ's call upon our lives be intensified through our burden for lost souls and may we all continue to compel!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Father, we thank You for Jesus who bore such a passion for lost humanity that He gave His all to be  clothed in the garb of humanity, so that He could identify with the physical weaknesses, spiritual temptations and other frailties common to humankind.  As we present the Person of Jesus described in the Bible to those who are lost and dying in their sins, we give them a hope and light that leads them out of deepening despair to glorious transformation.  We cannot make the choice for them, but we can give them opportunity as we obey the great commission Jesus gave before He ascended to heaven, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.   And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

Great Commission:  Matthew 28:19,20




Back of Amish buggy
Saturday evening we had a banquet at our church for our women and girls with the theme taken from John 15, "Bearing Much Fruit". Ester and I went over near Paradise, PA to pick up our Amish friend, Anna Ruth, along with her daughters, Sadie Ruth and Naomi Grace, and got caught behind some traffic.

Table setting
Table setting, an abundance of delicious food!

Bearded Tongue Iris
These lavendar bearded tongue irises graced the serving table.
I wonder how they ever came up with that name for a flower?

Mike Fleck preparing table for banquet
Several of the men served and Mike Fleck is shown making final preparations.

Fruit characters
An interesting contest many of the ladies participated in was making faces and characters out of fruit. Maybe you'd like to make a list of how many fruit and vegetables were used to make this couple.

Cerwin & Doris High, Bunny & Peg O'Hare 5/17/09
Following the service yesterday we had dinner guests;
Cerwin and Doris High (seated), Bunny and Peg O'Hare (standing)
It's sure great to be a part of the family of God!

I often refer to Doris High's photography skills and use her photos on this site. Her current "Delight In The Lord" photo blog post features many more photos from yesterday morning, along with her colorful comments!  She even has a photo of Ester dressed up in an Amish dress!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Click on the link to open and play.
In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.

"To God be The Glory"  Video  Yesterday we sang this grand old hymn in our church service and Brooksyne pointed out a line that states, "our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see"  That will be our ultimate Transport For Christ!  Several years ago I heard a powerful testimony by a man who owned a trucking company named "Wonder Transport" which he named after this phrase in the hymn.

"My Tribute"  Video 
This  song was sung at our wedding in 1976 and remains our prayer as a ministry couple.  It was at the time a sort of updated version of the Fanny Crosby hymn. Now it is a classic in it's own right! Another outstanding version.

"Be Unto Your Name"  Video  

Transport For Christ video description

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Personal Ministry Update
Revised 05/08/09

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Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message!
"A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!)
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!)
"Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one.

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Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.


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